Turner for the win
- Updated: July 17, 2018
Oxford right-hander gets credit for Game Two victory that allows North to salvage split of All-Star doubleheader
By East Alabama Sports Today
MONTGOMERY – The latest win on Jarin Turner’s career record might be the most surprising. It was to him.
The Oxford right-hander was credited with the North’s 6-2 win that salvaged a split in Tuesday’s North-South All-Star baseball game despite coming in with his team already holding a lead. The South won Game One 3-2 on a walk-off wild pitch.
“I am surprised,” he said on the ride back to Oxford from Riverwalk Stadium. “I had no idea.”
Turner was expected to pitch two innings in the doubleheader, but was told it would be the third and fourth innings of the opener. Instead, he pitched the fourth and fifth of the nightcap.
He entered the game with his team leading 3-0. He gave up one hit, two earned runs, walked two and struck out one. Oxford coach Wes Brooks was in the stands and observed Turner’s two-seam fastball was running “really, really good.”
“I did all right,” Turner said. “I did good the first inning, then the second inning I started sliding around the mound and walked a few.
“I didn’t want to go out there and do bad but at the same time I figured I wasn’t going to do perfect with my elbow still being the way it is. I did as good as I could; other than the walks, it was all right.”
Turner recently reopened his recruiting by rescinding his three-year-old commitment to Alabama. He said a “good amount of schools” were on hand to watch him pitch Tuesday night, but he has not made a new decision.
“I’m still open to whatever,” he said. “I’m still waiting.”
Turner worked behind starter Grayson Bray of Hartselle and Buckhorn’s Trey Wright and in front of Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa’s Garrett McMillan, who pitched two shutout innings for the save.
Jasper’s Zac Durham gave the North its lead with a two-run double in the first. Phillip Edwards’ sacrifice fly in the third made it 3-0.
Deshler’s Mason McCormack was named the North’s MVP. He pitched two no-hit innings with four strikeouts in Game One, had a hit and a run in the game, and had an RBI in Game Two. St. Paul’s Jake Holyfield was the South MVP.
The North leads the all-time series 23-12-1.
This story will be updated.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login